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The best DI box for bass
- Thread starter jdubbass38
- Start date
I had/have avalon, countryman, radial jDI, Bassbone, Retrospec Juicebox and squeezebox.
I like the Sqeezeebox best for bass. It's too bad they don't make them anymore.
I did keep the Sqeeze over the Juice because of size.
The REDDI was close, but both Retrospecs edged out the REDDI to my ears.
I would like to try a Basswich and the new Radial Firefly.
I like the Sqeezeebox best for bass. It's too bad they don't make them anymore.
I did keep the Sqeeze over the Juice because of size.
The REDDI was close, but both Retrospecs edged out the REDDI to my ears.
I would like to try a Basswich and the new Radial Firefly.
Kevinlane said:
The Basswitch can't be compared to the REDDI or Squeezebox as it is very transparent, U5-like.
I have both (Basswitch and REDDI) and I am using them depending on the sound I am going for.
To me, they are the best in their respective sound field.
Basta
REDDI. Many very good DI's out there, but never heard a DI that ever came close to using a speaker DI from an Ampeg B-15 till the REDDI. REDDI nails B-15 clean tone dead on, has near flat response to my ears, and refuses to get lost in a mix, even when it's barely in the mix at all. That = win as far as I'm concerned.
Radial IMO but they are expensive.
I personally use a $30 Traynor DI for emergencies and generally use the DI in my amp if I am going direct.
I personally use a $30 Traynor DI for emergencies and generally use the DI in my amp if I am going direct.
Zoom B3. It has a good selection of DI box presets built in.
If you are looking for a straight up DI, I'd look into the Aguilar Tone Hammer or a Tech 21 BDDI.
If you are looking for a straight up DI, I'd look into the Aguilar Tone Hammer or a Tech 21 BDDI.
I just thought I'd bring this up quick. The TC heads have a terrific sounding DI on them. I have used mine in the studio and for production shows and it really is fantastic. Clean and transparent. I`d put it up against any high end non tube DI. That said, I would LOVE to pick up a REDDI sometime in the near future!
I've had the Retrospec Juicebox for over a year now and couldn't be more happy with it. On top of that, the customer support at Ecstatic Electric (Retrospec's New York dealer) was superb. I'll be holding on to this guy for a very, very long time.
I hate to be that guy who going to say this but even with the sound samples between all the pretty much standard "best". Like the Radial J48 which I use, Reddi, Radials, Firefly, countryman, avalon etc, you feel there is this drastic difference and can't create a tone (using eq's, compression etc) that the engineer is seeking? There this big difference between a Reddi and the countryman that an engineer can't get unless he uses ....either? I do think there are bad ones and I would not use. But I can't see the price difference compared to sound (which Im not saying one is better).I don't think a good engineer can't get the sound he wants from any of the standard DI's....I just don't see the prices getting so out of hand. I may think now that certain companies like Firefly's Radial giving to you other options. I tell you I heard the clips of the firefly and reddi and can't imagine a good engineer having problems getting the sound he is looking for.
I have more of a recording background than bass background. To me a di is just that. It's not a preamp, it doesn't have eq. Those bass preamps with di's are neat, but they only work on bass. Sure you can put other stuff into them, but it typically isn't voiced right for other instruments. I want my di to do nothing to the sound. I can do any tone shaping with an amp or fx.
That said I really would like a reddi for bass. Generally I am a Radial guy. Completely bombproof and pristine.
That said I really would like a reddi for bass. Generally I am a Radial guy. Completely bombproof and pristine.
My point is similar to what you said. yet I still feel pre amps in DI's can easily be compromised in a good recording studio. If someone put there bass in a countryman and then in a reddi I feel the engineer can get the sound he is looking for. I just think people are getting too envolved with it. Yes you have a reddi, fantastic, you have a firefly great, you have a radial greaat, but its the engineer that is going to really get the sound. I am sure you have heard Tony Levin's shootout with all the different DI's. They all sounded good and very similar. Some will like some over the other. Some will have different opinions. yet I am sure the engineer can get the sound he is looking for from any of them. Well except the really basic cheapo's. If you walked into a studio wih a evil twin, reddi, and firefly and recorded the song using each of the di's and you did not know which one was used and he mixed it. You will not tell which is which. Be a great game.................
While a lot of hit records have been cut with a Countryman, and while I do believe that if you can't get a good sound with anything it's your fault and not the DI's fault, I can absolutely tell the difference between it and a REDDI, as well as most of the ones you named.
And I'll tell you where the difference lies for me...the high notes. I play in a band where the nature of the music is to use a lot of higher notes. With most DI's, the high notes lose their bottom and sound thin and pale as I define it, and that's why until I got a REDDI, I would insist on micing the cab. But never does the REDDI lose the bottom on the high notes. Every high note sounds just as fat and juicy as the low notes with it. And that's why I use it on every gig now...because it's that important to me.
And I'll tell you where the difference lies for me...the high notes. I play in a band where the nature of the music is to use a lot of higher notes. With most DI's, the high notes lose their bottom and sound thin and pale as I define it, and that's why until I got a REDDI, I would insist on micing the cab. But never does the REDDI lose the bottom on the high notes. Every high note sounds just as fat and juicy as the low notes with it. And that's why I use it on every gig now...because it's that important to me.
